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ECOWAS Diplomat Urges Ivorian Candidates to Accept Vote Results

   Peter Clottey 28 November 2010
   Ivorian  youths  look  at  a  cyber  cafe  in Abidjan at the country's
   Independent Electoral Commission website (file photo)

Photo: AFP

   Ivorian  youths  look  at  a  cyber  cafe  in Abidjan at the country's
   Independent Electoral Commission website (file photo)

   The  president  of  the  Economic  Community  of  West  African States
   (ECOWAS)  commission  told  VOA  Ivory  Coastâs peace and stability is
   critical  to  the  sub-regionâs  burgeoning  economic  development and
   strong democratic credentials.

   Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, who observed Ivory Coastâs presidential
   run-off  vote,  also  urged  both  President  Laurent  Gbagbo  and his
   challenger,  former  Prime  Minister  Alassane Ouattara, to accept the
   results of Sundayâs election.

   âThe  impression  is  that it has been calm in most places. There have
   been rumors of incidents in a few (areas) and that is not good enough.
   One  would  have thought that we would do it all without violence, but
   that  has  not been so. However, I think that most of the voting would
   stand and we will, in a few days time, know the results,â he said.

   Millions  of  Ivorians  cast ballots Sunday in an election designed to
   reunite  the  country divided by a civil war eight years ago. The days
   leading  up  to the runoff were marred by deadly street violence and a
   dispute over a nighttime curfew.

   Ambassador  Gbeho  said  his  organization continues to encourage both
   candidates   to   ensure   the   countryâs  prevailing  peace  is  not
   compromised.

   âThe  ECOWAS  mediator,  who  is  President Blaise Compaore of Burkina
   Faso,  spent  the  whole  day  here  talking  to  all  the candidates,
   encouraging them to restrain their followers and getting them to agree
   that they will accept the results,â said Ambassador Gbeho.

   âHe  did  a  yeomanâs job because, after his visit here, the political
   temperature  lowered.  Tension  came  down allowing for a good process
   today.â

   The  campaign  for  the  runoff  was marked by aggressive rhetoric and
   several  outbreaks of fighting between Gbagbo and Ouattara supporters.
   Three  people  died  in  a  clash  between police and demonstrators in
   Abidjan on Saturday.

   Last  week,  Ambassador  Gbeho  among  other West African sub-regional
   leaders,  launched  an  appeal for calm ahead of Sundayâs presidential
   run-off vote.
   Meanwhile,  in  a  joint  statement Saturday, President Gbagbo and Mr.
   Ouattara  appealed  for  calm  and  promised  to  accept  the election
   results.
   The  first-round  election in October passed peacefully with President
   Gbagbo  winning  38  percent  of  the  vote and Mr. Ouattara taking 32
   percent.

   Sunday's runoff hinges on which candidate could pick up the 25 percent
   of  voters  who  backed  the first voteâs third-place finisher, former
   president Henri Konan Bedie.

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